Black And White Review

Black And White Review

Subhash Ghai , the proverbial showman and the maker of many memorable
masala movies, comes up with a pertinent, hard-hitting, slice-of-life
film, appropriately titled 'Black And White'.

The film is about a sombre and brooding suicide bomber who has a
change of heart and mind after witnessing the harmony-in-diversity of
the friendly people of Chandni Chowk.

Newcomer Anurag Sinha plays a fidayeen from an Afghan terror camp who
comes to Delhi on a deadly mission. His target is Red Fort. And he
will execute his mission on August 15.

While in Delhi, the would-be bomber takes shelter in the house of a
polite and wise poet (Habib Tanvir) in Chandni Chowk and passes
himself off as Numer Qazi, a victim of Gujarat riots. In the same
locality live the Urdu professor Rajan Mathur ( Anil Kapoor ) and his
sharp-tongued social activist wife Roma ( Shefali Shah ).

Rajan, who sternly believes in religious tolerance and secularism,
takes a liking to the quiet and grim Numer.

In the days leading up to his mission, Numer encounters a number of
friendly characters in Chandni Chowk, including a pretty girl Shagufta
( Aditi Sharma ) who falls for him. The sullen and stone-hearted Numer
struggles with his emotions. On top of it, professor Rajan, his wife
Roma and the genteel octogenarian poet give Numer a different
perspective of life.

As days pass, Numer finds himself in an unexpected dilemma. On one
hand are his deep-rooted fundamentalist beliefs. On the other hand is
a faint spark of love, and values of mutual tolerance and humanity
that take root in his heart.

'Black And White' could easily have fallen into the trap of being a
preachy film. Though the film does have a few such moments, it mostly
manages to steer clear of the expected, in-your-face clichés that a
Bollywood film with a message of communal harmony could have easily
pandered to. And the credit for this should go to its director Subhash
Ghai, who shows commendable restraint in handling the sensitive
subject.

The only time Ghai seems to lose his grip over the plot is in the last
half hour of the film when the screenplay is contrived to the
director's convenience. It is in a few of these portions leading up to
the climax that the movie becomes unreal and unconvincing.

The film's leading man Anurag Sinha exudes a simmering intensity
befitting his character of a terrorist. The newcomer has few dialogues
in the film, yet he gives a palpable persona to his Numer. A notable
debut indeed.

Anil Kapoor keeps himself carefully restrained for most part of his
role. Shefali Shah is terrific in a brief role. Aditi Sharma just
about manages not to ham. Theatre veteran Habib Tanvir towers with his
screen presence and imposing voice.

'Black And White' deals with a very relevant issue in the times of
terrorism and racial profiling. Not only does the movie gives a
message of hope that terrorists could be reformed, it also questions
the way the state goes about dealing with terrorism.

It is an honest and commendable effort by Ghai. And it deserves to be
seen at least once.

via : Apun Ka choice